Density affects plant size in the Gobi Desert

Plant size is a crucial functional trait with substantial implications in agronomy and forestry. Understanding the factors influencing plant size is essential for ecosystem management and restoration efforts. Various environmental factors and plant density play significant roles in plant size. However, how plant size responds to mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT), and density in the arid areas remains incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted comprehensive vegetation surveys in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China with a MAP below 250 mm. We also collected climate data to disentangle the respective influences of climate and density on the community-weighted plant height, crown length, and crown width. Our observations revealed that the community-weighted mean plant height, crown length, and width demonstrated a positive association with MAT but negative relationships with both MAP and density. These patterns can be attributed to the predominance of shrubs over herbs in arid regions, as shrubs tend to be larger in size. The proportion of shrubs increases with MAT, while it decreases with MAP and density, resulting in higher plant height and larger crown dimensions. Although both MAP and MAT affect plant size in the Gobi Desert, our findings highlight the stronger role of plant density in regulating plant size, indicating that the surrounding plant community and competition among individuals are crucial drivers of plant size patterns. Our findings provide valuable guidance for nature-based solutions for vegetation restoration and ecosystem management, highlighting the importance of considering plant density as a key factor when designing and implementing restoration strategies in arid areas.

Investigation of the esthetic perception of different canine parameters

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to analyze the esthetic perception of selected canine features, namely crown length, shade, inclination, and angle of incisal edge tip.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anterior maxillary teeth of a Central European woman were photographed and digitally modified in order to investigate esthetic perceptions of the above four categories. Three groups of examiners with different levels of experience in the field of dentistry (laypersons/inexperienced dental students, advanced dental students, dentists) evaluated the photographs twice with the help of visual analogue scales.

RESULTS

The best-evaluated canines have approximately the same length as the central incisor, have the same shade as the other anterior teeth, are best embedded in a lighter overall tooth shade, are neutral to slightly palatal inclined, and have a right angled to rounded incisal edge (≥ 90°). The canines evaluated as least esthetic, however, are longer than the central incisors, darker, inclined labially, and have a tapered incisal edge. No significant differences could be found between the evaluations of the groups with regard to the four feature categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Laypersons, advanced dental students, and dentists generally evaluate according to the same esthetic standards. Gender does not have a significant influence on evaluation. Clear definitions of esthetically favored shades, incisal edge shapes, inclination, and lengths of the canines can be given.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Since the esthetics of the smile line play a critical role for patients, dentists, dental technicians, and their supplying industry, knowledge of the esthetically preferred morphology of canines is essential.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The aim of this study is to give clear definitions of esthetically favored shades, incisal edge shapes, and lengths of the canines, as the esthetics of the smile line play a critical role for patients, dentists, dental technicians, and their supplying industry (e.g., denture tooth manufacturers). Precise knowledge of esthetic preferences is important in clinical practice for both dentists and dental technicians, for example, in order to adequately advise patients regarding esthetic corrections. Also, in the case of missing teeth, this knowledge is essential for optimal and satisfactory restorations. Thus, this study can contribute to the satisfaction of general practitioners and patients.

Gender- and age-related differences in the width of attached gingiva and clinical crown length in anterior teeth

Background

The anatomical features of the gingiva and the clinical crowns and their interrelation, especially in aesthetically and functionally demanding areas, are important in complex dental or implant-retained prosthetic rehabilitations. This observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate gender- and age-related differences in the width of attached gingiva (WAG), the clinical crown length (CCL), and their interrelation in the anterior teeth to determine the relationship between the pink and white aesthetics.

Methods

Eighty (54 females, 26 males) fully dentate Caucasian participants between the ages of 20 and 25 years and 36 probands (23 females, 13 males) between the ages of 45 and 55 years were included in the present study. The CCL of the maxillary and mandibular canines, as well as the central incisors of the maxilla and mandible, were determined with a dental sliding caliper measuring from the middle margin of the gingiva at its deepest point to the incisal edge. The clinical investigation of the WAG was performed by inserting a periodontal probe into the gingival sulcus in the middle of the buccal surface to firstly measure the probing pocket depth. The distance between the gingival margin and mucogingival junction (MGJ) was then measured with a Beerendonk sliding caliper in the middle of the labial curvature, and the clinical WAG was determined by subtraction of the measured probing depth. For the statistical analysis, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Wilcoxon-Test, the Spearman’s rank correlation, and a two-factorial non-parametric analysis were used.

Results

There was no correlation between the CCL and the WAG in a healthy periodontium. Gender influenced the CCL, with men having significantly longer teeth than women in both maxilla (P ≤ 0.01) and mandible (P ≤ 0.05). Age did not influence the CCL significantly neither in the upper (P = 0.06) nor in the lower jaw (P = 0.33). Gender did not show to have a significant influence on the WAG of maxilla (P = 0.69) and mandible (P = 0.26). But differences in the WAG between young and old participants were observed in both upper (P ≤ 0.01) and lower jaw (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

The present observational study demonstrated that the mean values of cohorts with mixed age groups and genders should not be considered when attempting to determine the ideal relationships between the pink and white aesthetics since the statistical analyses showed significant differences between different age groups and genders.

Comparison of Gingival Biotype between different Genders based on Measurement of Dentopapillary Complex

INTRODUCTION

Clinical and aesthetic outcomes after periodontal or implant surgical procedures are determined by anatomical and morphological characteristics of the gingiva like width of keratinized gingiva, thickness of gingiva and alveolar bone. Therefore, the knowledge of gingival biotype plays an important role in modifying the dental therapeutic procedures for the desired outcome and predictability.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the gingival biotype among genders by clinical, photographic and radiographic parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 800 subjects (400 males and 400 females) were considered for the study. Width of keratinized gingiva (GW), transparency of the periodontal probe through the sulcus (TRAN) were assessed clinically; Crown Width/Crown Length ratio (CW/CL) and Papillary Height (PH) were assessed photographically; Gingival Thickness (GT1, GT2, GT3) and Alveolar bone Thickness (AT1, AT2, AT3) were assessed radiographically. The obtained data was correlated to compare the gingival biotype between males and females. The collected data was statistically analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The TRAN at GT1, GT2 and GT3 as well as at AT1, AT2 and AT3 showed a very strong positive correlation in males (r>0.8) as compared to females (r<0.8). A very strong positive correlation was observed between GT1, GT2, GT3 and AT1, AT2, AT3 in males (r>0.9) as compared to females (r<0.7).

CONCLUSION

There are definite differences in the gingival biotype among different genders with predominance of a thin gingival biotype with reduced alveolar bone thickness in females as compared to males.

Treatment of the Patient with Gummy Smile in Conjunction with Digital Smile Approach

Gummy smile cases are always esthetically demanding cases. This article presents a case treated with an interdisciplinary treatment approach and Digital Smile Approach (DSA) using Keynote (DSA), to predictably achieve an esthetic outcome for a patient with gummy smile. The importance of using questionnaires and checklists to facilitate the gathering of diagnostic data cannot be overemphasized. The acquired data must then be transferred to the design of the final restorations. The use of digital smile design has emerged as a powerful tool in cosmetic dentistry to help both practitioner and patient visualize the final outcome.

Analysis of the gingival biotype based on the measurement of the dentopapillary complex

Background:

The gingival morphology of the maxillary anterior region plays an important role in determining the final esthetic outcome. Knowledge of the periodontal biotype is of fundamental importance because the anatomical characteristics of the periodontium, such as gingival thickness, gingival width and alveolar bone morphology, will determine periodontium behavior when submitted to physical, chemical, or bacterial injury or during periodontal or implant surgical procedures and orthodontic treatment.

Materials and Methods:

50 subjects with healthy periodontal tissues with no loss of attachment and (b) presence of all anterior teeth in both upper and lower jaw were selected. On clinical examination gingival thickness was recorded based on the transparency of periodontal probe. Following parameters are recorded from dental cast, i.e., crown length, crown width, papillary length (PL) and papillary width.

Results:

There was highly significant correlation between gingival biotype and crown length and area of papilla with P value −0.002 and 0.013 respectively. Significant correlation was found between area of crown and PL with P value −0.013 and 0.016. The results of discriminant function analysis showed that average crown length was the best single determinant of biotype and area of papilla was the next best choice.

Conclusion:

Within the limits of the current investigation, the existence and correlation of different gingival biotypes and dentopapillary complex dimension has been confirmed. These findings can be utilized as objective guidelines for determining the biotype and response of gingiva to many dental operative procedures.